Doctors Respond to USDA’s $50 Million Dairy Industry Bailout

Hundreds of medical professionals gathered in front of the White House this week to protest against a recent decision by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase $50 million worth of milk (which amounts to 11 to 13 million gallons) that it plans to distribute to national assistance programs such as food banks and schools. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wielded a sign that read “Ditch the Dairy” to raise awareness about the damaging health effects of consuming animal-based milk. “Instead of spending millions bailing out the milk industry, the government should ditch the dairy,” PCRM founder Neal Barnard, MD said. “The USDA’s milk bailout unfairly burdens students and others who rely on federal food programs with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and lactose intolerance, among other chronic health conditions.” Earlier this month, PCRM gathered in front of the White House holding a banner emblazoned with the message “Go Vegan.”